LIVE THREAD-WAITING FOR CHARLEY

8-13-04 | vanity

[STARWISE]

ALL FLORIDIANS, PLEASE COMMENT ON CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE ON SOUTHERN WEST COAST

I'm inland from Tampa Bay about 25 miles. Dear God, I'm scared. I lost it all in Andrew in '92 and left South Florida after a year and a half to come to this area.

Please keep me and all those going through this storm in your prayers. I'm alone here, and this storm's probably going to be very damaging and destructive. I'm picking up branches, objects lying about. I've filled the tub with water, I'll bringing in my dog and my birds, I haven't taped the windows as I've heard that can cause worse problems when the windows are broken. I pulled the car right up close to the house on the south side. I've draped the windows with fabric to stop debris or glass .. but in high winds, it probably won't be much help.

I've got old, tall oak trees overhead .. and I don't know how the roof or house or I will fare. There is no inner room without a window, so my location will probably be my shower stall on the south side of the house. It has one typical bathroom window. There is no other place where my dog and I could at least be surrounded with some strengthened walls.

I'm not in an evacuation area, and I wouldn't be able to take my pets in anyway.

Even if I have to get offline because I need to move the computer, there may be some insight and help offered until then and many thousands of us in this area may be helped by some tip.

PLEASE pray Charley away from here .. please pray for my and our safety on the West Central Florida coast. God Bless Us All.

[Pyro7480]

OR check out post 238 above. ;-)

[dirtboy]

Well, the eye is well past your in-laws now, and it looks like they didn't get hit with the worst of it from the loop radar. If they didn't have too bad a surge, they'll be OK - but they might be without power for some time.

[Netizen]

How strong of winds do you think they could get? They are about 4 miles from the Harbor. Should they be out of of the way of flooding, do you think?

[Katya]

My 17 year old son was in Naples Florida until this morning, he's staying with family friends and they've picked up and moved 1 1/2 hr drive to the interior. I'm hopng all is well, as of about 4PM they just reported a rain storm. I will try and call them later tonight, it seems some cell phone lines are out. The waiting is the worst, but we're all thinking of you guys down there.

[floriduh voter]

Here I sit in Tampa Bay ten miles from the Gulf. THE SKY IS WHITE.... It's very strange indeed. Anyone else got a WHITE SKY?????

[floriduh voter]

Wait until they sort out all the buildings that weren't up to code in Charlotte County. Punta Gorda is decimated.

[floriduh voter]

Starwise, I was scared all day and it didn't matter that Charley didn't hit here as predicted. When I saw the destruction in Punta Gorda footage, I'm even more scared. That was supposed to be us. THE SKY IS WHITE TOO. I've never seen a WHITE SKY. This is fascinating.

[floriduh voter]

Look at the devastation in Punta Gorda. Rated Cat 4 when Charley hit land. It's a mess down there. Those folks weren't as prepared as Tampa Bay because the path was predicted to put Charley in Tampa Bay. Some guy is calling local radio saying parts of Punta Gorda is obliterated.

[Et in Arcadia Ego]

Marion County? Are you anywhere near the Villages?

I have a house and some lovely neighbours there (actually in the Lake County part of the Villages). I saw on this thread that there was a tornado in Lake County...

Any news? I am on the other side of the world at the moment.

[gcruse]

I'm near Top of the World in the southwest corner of the county. The storm track is being pushed eastward by a system in the Gulf. As a result, Marion county will only see rain and winds gusting to sixty, which is fine. No worries, mate.

[mean lunch lady]

"Marion County? Any news?"
I am in Gainesville, near Ocala, and we were fine, just some wind and rain, nothing too much. As far as I know, Marion County was the same, no major reports of damage or injuries.

[jpsb]

How are your inlaws? OK I hope, looks like north point was directly in the path of the huricane.

[STARWISE]

Thank God ... I've aged about 20 years, and I'm so blessed to not have experienced Charley. Today's weather has been bad .. I don't know where it's coming from, but I've already lost power for over an hour and had bad storms. But the blessing is .. nothing from Charley, praise the Lord.

Pegita .. blessings on you for your touchingly beautiful prayers ... they've helped ... all the prayers have helped. My prayers are with the folks down south of me .. I'm praying for them. I know what they're facing and handling .. I was homeless for 6 weeks and in bread lines, food lines, phone lines, and mail lines for about 2 months after Andrew. God Bless all those in Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Charlotte Harbor, Lake Wales, Fort Meade, Wauchula .. this storm would NOT weaken .. it was freaky.

To see the swath of damage in Charley's path is breathtaking ... it just would not die. That eyewall was still holding even as far inland as Orlando, which experienced winds up to 105 mph. That's unbelievable! This storm is truly a wakeup call for all Floridians .. I'm truly stunned at the devastation that's occurred so far inland .. and here comes a couple more storms. God help us all, and God help the people struggling to rebuild their lives.

Thank you all again for all the prayers and good wishes .. please continue to pray for those suffering right now. A hospital worker reported that she knew of 100-150 people who were brought to the hospital dead on arrival. God Bless their families in their grief.

[STARWISE]

Hurricane Andrew Damage - 1992

My unit was in the middle of a 7-unit bldg. fronting a lovely, peaceful little lake. I had to evacuate. When I returned, I found the 3 units to my right were down to just crumbs. My unit was the first one with a standing wall. Evacuation recommendations are lifesavers .. it turned out that I lived where the atomic bomb went off. VietNam war-era pilots flying in supplies said that this area was worse than that the destruction they had seen in that war.

I'm so sad for the people who've been struck with such damage .. it looks just like Homestead after Andrew. God Bless them all.

[fatima]

STARWISE,You are back.We have been following and praying.

[fatima]

Dick Vomer How are things can you check in and say hello,fatima

[Palladin]

Can this body count be true? The media is reporting only 15 dead. I guess they are holding back the awful statistics until next of kin are notified.

God help all the people down there who have suffered from this storm!

[fatima]

musicman,You guys OK,please check in.